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This work concerns the non-stationary vibration of an elastic beam induced by a transverse dynamic loading of impact character. In particular, two different approaches to the problem solution are compared. The first one is based on one-dimensional Timoshenko beam theory. The latter one is based on the exact two-dimensional theory. Both approaches are used for finding the response of a simply supported isotropic homogeneous beam. The results are then discussed in relation to the beam geometry and mainly to the functions describing the spatial and time character of applied load.